Flexible joint



Feb.'22, i949. i i F. N. BARD 2,462,592

` FLEXIBLE JOINT Filedfoot. 5, 1944 /Uia Ewa/7752":

MMM/WMZ@ Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a flexible joint, and more particularly to a joint incorporating resilient means such as rubber.

One feature of this invention is that it provides an improved iiexible joint; another feature of this invention is that it provides a joint structure having a number of advantages and functions; yet another feature of this invention is that it makes use of resilient means such as rubber to provide at least limited angular movement; still another feature of this invention' is that the joint incorporates means providing sliding movement to compensate for expansion; a further feature of this invention is that this joint prevents transmission of vibrations from one pipe section to another; and yet a further feature of this joint is that it incorporates means for compensating for improper alignment of the axes of the pipes it connects. Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and thev drawings, in which: Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a joint embodying my invention; and Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

There are, of course, innumerable situations where it is desirable to use a flexible joint to couple one length of pipe to another or to some device to which it is to be connected. I have devised and am here disclosing and claiming a joint which permits at least limited angular movement, which permits sumcient sliding movement to compensate for expansion and contraction, which can be readily adjusted to compensate for misalignment of a pipe or pipes, and which absorbs and prevents transmission of vibrations from one section to the other.

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the joint comprises as its two principal elements an outer joint member or housing member I'll and an inner joint member II here shown as part of a pipe section, although it will be understood that this may also be a separate member connected in any conventional manner to the remainder of the length of pipe. The outer joint member is here shown as provided with a flange portion Illa adapted to be bolted to the device to which the pipe is to be connected by the joint, although it will be understood that any conventional connecting arrangement may be used.

The inner surface of the outer joint member I!) is provided with a cylindrical surface here identied as Ib, this surface confronting land being spaced from the outer cylindrical surface Ila of the inner joint member II. In the center of the cylindrical surface lllb is a V-shaped annular groove Iilc adapted to receive a gasket ring I2 sometimes known to the trade as an O-ring. The inner end of the cylindrical surface i917 is defined by a shoulder here identied as Id; and the outer end is defined by a shoulder Ille provided by a ring Ilf held in place in any convenient manner, as by studs Iilg.

Within the outer joint member and slidably movable on the cylindrical surface Ib is an an-.

nular eccentric member I3. The outer radius of this member is preferably such as to make it a close, although sliding, :t on the cylindrical surface lb; and the gasket ring I2 makes this sliding relationship liquid-sealed. The width of the annular member is preferably substantially less than the length of the cylindrical surface as dened between the shoulders B00. and tile, so that the annular member may slide longitudinally of the joint through a sufficient distance (as a quarter cf an. inch or more) to compensate for expansion and contraction in the pipe.

The annular eccentric member I3 is also provided with an inner cylindrical surface,rthis inner surface i3d being eccentric with respect to the center of the outer cylindrical surface i317, as may be best seen in vFigure 2. The annular member I3 is connected to the inner joint member II! by resilient means Ill, as an annular member of rubber. The central body portion of this member M is preferably of uniform thickness, so that the inner joint member II is concentric with respect to the inner surface I3@ of the eccentric member. Rotation of the eccentric member and inner joint member thus results in shifting the axis of the inner joint member with respect to the axis of the outer joint member. This is of considerable advantage in many applications, as it enables sufficient adjusting movement to compensate for misalignment of the pipe section with respect to the axis of the opening or other pipe section to which it is to be connected. If desired, the inner cylindrical surface ilib can be sightly eccentric with respect to the axis of the outer joint member I 0. A

As may be best seen in Figure l, the outer surface I Ia of the inner joint member I I is provided with a plurality of annular grooves l Ib, providing a better grip for the annular rubber member I4; and this member is further held in place by the provision of a shoulder I I'c at one end of the surface II a, and a removable shoulder at the other end, this latter being provided by a washer Ild held in place by a nut IIe threaded on the end of the pipe member. The rubber member I4 is rst expanded and then contracted around the inner joint member ll with considerable tension, a vulcanizing compound being used between the pipe and rubber to bond the two together. The rubber is then placed under considerable compression and forced into the eccentric member 3,

.against which it expands Ywith considerable force,

a vulcanizing compound again beingiusedto bond the two together. The use of thee rubber not onlyv enables angular movement without the wear encountered in conventional ball joints, but alsoprovides very effective vibration isolating means i between the two sections of the joint. While I have shown and described. certain em- Y bodirnents of my invention, it is to"b'eunderst`ood that it is capable of many modifcaticns.. Changes; therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from theA spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the ap- M pexrdedclai'ms..

claim :ir 31...:Aijoint: ofthe character-f described, including: arm cuter-1?:jeintfineinber; an.l inner joint member,

saidmeinbersihaving: spacedconfrcnting surfaces, -f;

angui'ar l annuhrimemberranda theV otherof the-confront- I, 1

ingrssurfaeesz .permitting'angular movement betweenrsaidijnintzfrnemb'ers:

3, A joint offthe Acharacter described;v including: aniouterpjoint; member; an-iinner jointmember, saidzmembersiharingispacedxconfronting surfaces, atsleastinneofjthe confronting. surfaces being cylindiicalgf:ani-annular `leccentric member rotatable: om 'cylindrical ace; and' resilient 'betweenzsaida .annular member and the other of the confronting surfaces permitting angular movement between said joint members, with said resilient means being bonded to said annular member and said other of the confronting surfaces.

4. A joint of the character described, including: an outer joint member; an inner joint member, said members having spaced confronting surf-acca, at leastone ofthe confronting surfaces being cyflindricalg-an annular member'rotatable on said' cylindrical surface and movable longitudinally on said surface; and resilient means between said annular member and the other of the fcenircnting surfaces permitting angular movement between said joint members, with said resil- Vi'errt means'being bonded toy said annular member andisaidiather of't-hezconfronting surfaces.

5. A jqirit of the character described, includingf anouter joint member; an inner joint member, said members having spaced confronting surfaces, at. least on'eLof-.the confrontingfsurfacesibeingz cylindrical?. arr'annular' member .rotatable onfsaid cylindrical surface andemcinableslongitudinally. von said' surface;` resilient means; between said annular'memberfandzthe other offthej cerr-` frontingi surfaces permitting angular` -mouementl between: said joint member,A with"said resilient.l

meansbeing bonded to said: annulartmember.'and7 said; other of. thel confronting. surfaces; and'v sealiingu-means betweerr saidrannular 'member and isaidl cylindrical surface;

' FRANCIS Na. :BARE:

REFERENCES.

The-"fbllowing references are offrecordin the of this patenti UBHIED STATES PATENTS.-

Number 'Name 342444 Bray MaylI, 1836 '9583752`v Mackensenv 'May 24, 1'91'0"v 1",3572i9`V Brewster ?Nov; 2, '1920"v i3793g888\ Whitehouse Febal-, 1931- 2,145,1`89" Nathan vJ'm; 241, 1'9'395 2,344,698 Howe Mar. 2l, 1944@ FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country' Dateff 17.43092 .Germany ."Sept..20,' 1906; 

